Khvastou remains ambassador, but not allowed to visit America

Belarusian Ambassador to the US Mihkail Khvastou remains in the position and is in Minsk “at consultations”.

The BelaPAN has been informed about that in the press service of the Belarusian foreign policy ministry.

It was reported previously that the US ambassador to Belarus, Karen Stewart, has been appointed principal deputy assistant secretary of the State Department`s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor. Ms. Stewart has not yet stepped down officially as US ambassador to Belarus. At present the US diplomatic mission in Belarus is headed by the charge d`affaires, Jonathan Moore.

After the official site of the US Treasury published explanations to the sanctions imposed in November 2007 against Belneftekhim concern, on March 7 M. Khvastou was recalled from Washington for consultations. On March 12 on demand of Belarusian authorities as a retaliatory step K. Stewart left Belarus.

After the number of Belarusian Embassy staff in the US was cut down, the number of the US diplomats in Minsk was reduced from 35 to 4 after demands of the Belarusian authorities.